Combined blackboard and desk



C. W. HALL.

COMBINED BLACKBOARD AND DESK.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 19. 1921.

1,416,555, Patented May 16, 1922 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. W. HALL.

COMBINED BLACKBOARD AND DESK.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 19. I92].

Patented May 16, 1922.

earner We.

CHARLES WM. HALL, OF VALPARAISO, INDIANA.

COMBINED BLAOKBOABID AND DEI's'K.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16 19.22.

Application filed April 19, 1921. Serial No. 462,499.

pliances and more particularly to folding desk blackboards.

The object of the invention is to construct such an appliance combining in a single article a book rack, slate or blackboard and desk either of which may be arranged for use at the will of the user, the book rack and desk being adapted for use jointly if desired on the book rack and the slate.

Another object is to so construct such an appliance that all the parts may be folded compactly in a small space when not in use and so mounted relatively to each other that the slated surface of the blackboard is prevented from contacting with any other part thereby avoiding marring of said surface or injury of other parts thereby.

Another object is toso mount the slate when in closed or upright position as to prevent all possibility of its becoming warped or twisted.

Another object is to so construct such an appliance that the parts will be locked against gapping when not in use thus rendering the device dust proof.

Another object is to equip such an appliance with combine-d chalk and pencil holders constructed so as to prevent all possibility of the pencil or chalk from dropping out and which forms a cushion like support for these elements.

Another object is to provide concealed means for suspending the appliance from the wall so that when not so suspended these means will not be visible.

lVith these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and de scribed and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the appliance in'folded position when not designed for use.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the appliance opened up for use as a desk.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken looking toward the left of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a similar view looking toward the right with the lower portion broken off for convenience in illustration.

Fig. is a detail vertical section showing the locking means for the desk in operative position; and

Fig. 6 is a detail end elevation with parts broken out and in section to show the means for suspending the appliance from a wall or other support when desired.

In the embodiment illustrated this appliance comprises a cabinet 1 composed of a base board or bottom 2 the width and length of which varies according to the size of the appliance to be constructed. Rising from the ends of this base board 2 are two end members 3 and 4 suitably secured thereto, said members being preferably mortised to receive the base board as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5. A top board or cross bar 5 connects the upper ends of the end members 3 and 4 preferably at a point spaced from the terminals thereof to provide a supporting shelf which may be used for various pur poses. As shown the end members 3 and 4 are made wider at their lower than at their upper ends.

A. backboard 6 of suitable thickness and composed of any desired material connects and is secured to the rear edges of the bottom. 2 and end members 3 and 4 also the top member or shelf 5, the end members being preferably made to receive this back board so that when connected its rear face will be flush with the rear edges of said end members and its lower edge flush with the lower face of the bottom 2 as is shown clearly in Fig. 3.

The end members 3 and 4 are cut away on their inner faces near their front edges throughout their entire length as is shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 4 providing at the rear portions of said out out shoulders 7 to form abutments for the blackboard or slate 10 when in vertical closed position as will hereinafter be described.

These en-d members are also provided near their lower ends with recesses 8 extending transversely on the inner faces of said members the walls of which are inclined as shown at 9 which form guides and seats for the board 10 when used as a desk as is shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 5.

These end members 3 and 4 are provided at their lower ends on their inner faces with pockets 13 the rear walls of which are formed in alinement with the shoulders 7. These pockets are of a width corresponding to the thickness of the end members 11 of the board 10 and are designed to receive the lower corners of said board when it is in vertical or upright position as shown in Fig. 1.

The upper portions of the end members and 1 are provided on their inner face in advance of the shoulders 7 with longitudinally extending grooves 1 1 which are designed to receive longitudinally extending ribs 12 formed on the outer faces of the upper end portions of the board 10 so that when the board 10 is in closed or vertical position the four corners thereof will be securely held and all. possibility of the board becoming warped will be prevented. These cooperating connecting elements between the end members and the board also provide a dust proof closure for the cabinet and. pre vent gapping at the joints.

The end member 3 has a longitudinally extending groove 15 in its inner face which communicates with the recess 8 of said member and has a lateral extension 16 at the upper portion extending toward the rear or back board 6 of the cabinet, as is shown clearly in Fig. 41.

This groove 16 is designed for a purpose presently to be described.

The end member 41- has a deep groove 17 formed in its inner face communicating with the recess 8 in said member as is shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 5.

A. locking element 18 is slidably mounted in the groove 17 and is preferably constructed of spring wire folded shown in Fig. 5. the loop 19 formed at the upper portion thereof being provided at its lower end intermediate the length of the element 18 with a laterally extending loop shaped finger 20 to be used in operating the sliding device for locking and unlocking the board 10 when used as a desk. (See Figs. 3 and Arranged transversely of the groove 1 at longitudinally spaced points are retaiir ing elements 21 forming guides and holding the member 18 in the groove. said retainers being here shown in the form of staples and against which the outer member of the loop 19 bears. the other member thereof bearing against the inner wall of the groove and thus operating to hold the element 18 in adjusted position. The lower board edging portion of the member 18 as shown is formed by folding one end of the wire flat against the body portion thereof forming a pin continuous and in longitudinal of an inch thick, more or less, and having once face thereof slated to provide a writing surface. The side edges of this board 10 are reinforced by grooved members 11 in the grooves of which the side edges of the board are inserted and secured. These reinforcing end members 11 as above described are provided at one end on their outer faces with the ribs 12 extending longitudinally thereof and designed to enter the grooves 14- in the side members of the cabinet for locking the board in upright position, the lower ends being inserted in the pockets 13 of said members. The lower ends of these members 11 are also provided with apertures extending transversely therethrough for the reception of the locking member 18 it being understoodv that the board is reversible to present either its slated surface upward or the opposed thereof at the will of the user and that these apertured ends will register when so positioned with the locking member 18 so that the pin portion or lower end thereof will extend through the aperture and hold the board. in adjusted position.

Mounted on the inner face of the rear wall 6 of the cabinet near the lower end thereof is a plurality of pencil or chalk holders 2/5. and 23 two series of which are here shown spaced transversely apart. (See Fig.

Each of these series of holders is composed of two vertically spaced blocks 24.- and 25 lilaving mounted on their outer faces longitudinally spaced headed elements 28 and each block being here shown prov ded with three although obviously the nuniiber may be varied according to the length of the blocks.

The elements 26 of the two blocks are arranged in transverse alinement and have extended therearound rubber bands 27 through which the pencil or chalk to be held is designed to be threaded. and which also operate as cushioning elements for the chalk and pencil and prevent all possibility of the chalk being broken.

A book rack 28 is shown hingedly mounted in its upper end in the top portion of the cabinet and is adapted to swing laterally in and out of the cabinet.

The rack comprises a supporting base or board 29 with a rod 30 secured to its upper rear face and projecting at its ends beyond the ends of the board to form pintles for hingedly connecting the board to the end members of the cabinet.

' A cleat 81 is secured to the lower front face of the board 29, being preferably mortised at its rear edge to receive the lower edge of the board and is secured thereto by gluing or otherwise. This cleat 31 has an upwardly extending lip 32 at its front edge and is designed to form a support for a book to be mounted on. the rack or for any other articles to be supported thereby. A rod 33 has one end thereof engaged with one end of the cleat 31 and its other end bent laterally outward and adapted to be slidably mounted in the groove 15 of the end member 3 of the cabinet as is shown clearly in Fig. 1.

This wire 33 is designed to support the rack member at suitable angles for supporting books and other articles and may be of any desired length according to the position in which the rack is to mounted, when swung open. The outwardly projecting laterally extending inner end of this wire 33 designed to travel in the groove 15 of the end member 3 and when the rack is swung outward to the desired extent this linger will enter the notch 16 of said groove and hold the rack in such position. When. it is desired to release the rack and swing it inward, a slight forward pullis exerted thereon sufficient to bring the laterally extending finger of the wire into the groove 15 and then said wire is depressed slightly sufficient to cause it to move downwardly in said groove when the weight of the rack will operate to move the finger a suflicient distance to permit the rack to close into the dotted line position as shown in Fig. 4.

The rear edges of the end members 3 and t of the cabinet 1 are recessed as shown at 34 and have extended transversely across these recesses pins 35 which are designed to be engaged by hooks 36 carried by a wall or other support when it is desired to suspend the cabinet for such support. These pins 35 are invisible or practically invisible when the cabinet is mounted on a table or other support as shown in Fig. 2. When the appliance is in closed position as shown in Fig. 1 obviously all of the parts will be housed within the cabinet and protected against dust and the like and it may be readily trans ported from place to place or stored in a very small space. i

The preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the drawings and set forth in the specifications, but it will be understood that any modifications within the scope of the claims may be made in the construction without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What I claim is 1. In an appliance of the class described,

a cabinet closed except at its front, the side members of said cabinet being cutaway on their inner faces near their front edges throughout their entire length with abutments formed at the rear portions of said cutouts, said side members being also provided near their lower ends with recesses extending transversely and having the walls thereof inclined to provide guides and seats,

a closure for said cabinet slidable in the cutout portions of the side members thereof, and means for locking said closure in closed position, said closure being adapted to swing laterally into the recesses at the lower ends of the side members when in open position and to be held by the walls of said recesses to adapt the closure for use as a desk.

2. In an appliance of the class described, a cabinet closed except at its front, the side members of said cabinet being cutaway on their inner faces near their front edges throughout their entire length with abutments formed at the rear portions of said cutouts, said side members being also pro vided near their lower ends with recesses extending transversely and having the walls thereof inclined to provide guides and seats, a closure for said cabinet slidable in the cutout portions of the side members thereof, and means for locking said closure in closed position, said closure being adapted to swing laterally into the recesses at the lower ends of the side members when in open position and to be held by the walls of said recesses to adapt the closure for use as a desk, said end members being also provided at their lower ends on their inner faces with pockets, the rear walls of which aline with the abutments above referred to, said pockets being designed to receive the lower corners of the closure when in a vertical or upright position.

3. In an appliance of the class described, a cabinet closed except at its front, the side members of said cabinet being cutaway on their inner faces near their front edges throughout their entire length with abutments formed at the rear portions of said cutouts, said side members being also provided near their lower ends with recesses extending transversely and having the walls thereof inclined to provide guides and seats, a closure for said cabinet slidable in the cutout portions of the side members thereof, means for locking said closure in closed position, said closure being adapted to swing laterally into the recesses at the lower ends of the side members when in open position and to be held by the walls of said recesses to adapt the closure for use as a desk, said end members being also provided at their lower ends on their inner faces with pockets, the rear walls of which aline with the abutments above referred to, said pockets being slidable in said grooves and having ribs at its upper end on the edges thereof to engage the grooves at the upper ends of said end members, said members having transversely 15 extending recesses in their inner faces near their lower ends to receive the lower end of said closure when swung to outward position for use as a desk.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature 20 hereto.

CHARLES WM. HALL. 

